Spiders 20th in preseason poll, which has strong CAA presence

William and Mary was ranked 19th and Richmond 20th in The Sports Network’s preseason Football Championship Subdivision poll.

Eastern Washington led the survey, followed by North Dakota State, which is coming off a 15-0 title season.

New Hampshire (No. 4), Villanova (12), Towson (13) and Maine (25) joined W&M and UR in representing the Colonial Athletic Association, while Liberty (27) and the CAA’s Delaware (29) and James Madison (31) were among others receiving votes for the top 25.

Track and field/cross country:

William and Mary hired former American record-holder and NCAA champion Chris Solinsky as an assistant coach. He will help primarily with long- and middle-distance runners while continuing his competitive career, hoping to make the 2016 Olympics.

Solinsky starred for Wisconsin, earning 14 All-American honors and five NCAA crowns -- two at 3,000 meters and three at 5,000. He has been a volunteeer coach at the University of Portland for the past two years.

In 2010, he ran a 10K in 26:59.60, becoming the first man not born in Africa to break 27 minutes in that event. He is second all-time in the U.S. in the 5K and 10K.

Women’s soccer:

Last year’s winner, midfielder Morgan Brian, and two of her Virginia teammates — midfielder Danielle Colaprico and forward Makenzy Doniak — were among 32 players named to the watch list for the Hermann Trophy, comparable to football’s Heisman in that it goes to the nation’s top college player.

Men’s soccer:

Chris Harmon, a former Old Dominion All-CAA player, was named the Director of Soccer Operations for ODU’s men’s and women’s soccer programs.

Last season, he was an assistant coach at Florida Southern under former ODU player and assistant coach Ryan Sniegoski. ...

U.Va. midfielder Eric Bird, a senior from Virginia Beach, and George Mason sophomore goalkeeper Steffen Kraus were among 32 players named to the men’s Hermann Trophy watch list.

Men’s tennis:

Virginia, coming off a 2014 national semifinal appearance and the 2013 NCAA title, named Dustin Taylor an assistant coach.

He has spent four years at the United States Tennis Association, including the last two years serving as the USTA Player Development national coach for collegiate tennis.